UGC issues notice inviting universities to offer courses in ‘Online mode’ from 2019-20

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 5: In a move to bring reform in the Higher Education sector, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has invited proposals from Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), to offer courses in ‘Online mode’ from 2019-20 onwards.

As per the UGC, this initiative is a big step towards attaining the targeted GER of 30% by the year 2020.

The eligible universities can submit their application till January 31 this year. In May 2018, the Commission approved UGC (Online Courses) Regulations, 2018, which is being touted as a landmark reform in the field of Higher Education.

R. Subrahmanyam, Education Secretary, Ministry of HRD made the announcement on twitter, he wrote, “A new dawn in higher education system in India. UGC invites applications for ONLINE degrees by the best institutions.”

As per the regulation, institutions can now offer Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programmes in full-fledged online mode in line with their regular programs. However, programmes that require practical/ laboratory courses as a curricular requirement shall not be permitted under the ‘Online mode’.

The HEIs that have been in existence for at least five years with minimum National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) accreditation of 3.26 on a 4-point scale. The institution should be in the top-100 in overall category in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) for at least two years in the previous three years.

However, NAAC and NIRF conditions shall not be applicable to existing government Open Universities till NAAC or similar accreditation system or NIRF are made available.

Institutions can offer Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programmes in full-fledged online mode in
only those disciplines in which it has already been offering the same or similar Programmes /Courses at graduation level in regular mode (of classroom teaching) or in Open and Distance Learning mode and from which at least one batch has been graduated and approved by the statutory councils, as applicable.

The Examinations shall be conducted in proctored mode and in conformity with any norms for such examinations stipulated by the commission. The online learning shall have a minimum of four quadrants: video lectures, e-content, self-assessment and discussion forum to clarify doubts.